Monday, April 10, 2006 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon (one hour bus trip each way) $45.00 per person, includes transportation Space is limited - Registration Cut Off March 24, 2006. No day-of registrations accepted.
Just a short drive from the glitter and glamour of Vegas, the amazing Hoover Dam is a testimony to a country's ability to construct monolithic projects in the midst of adverse conditions. Built during the Great Depression between 1931 and 1935, thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. It took less than 5 years to build the largest dam of its time. Now, 70 years later, Hoover Dam still stands as a world-renowned structure. Hoover Dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been called one of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World. This engineering marvel not only enabled the industrial development of the Pacific Southwest, but it also forms Lake Mead, the largest manmade reservoir in the Western Hemisphere. History comes to life as you tour the interior of this 72-story structure, see its powerplant, and view some fascinating exhibits.
Your private one-hour tour will take you to the Arizona Balcony overlooking the generators, a walk along the generator floor, and on into the adit where you are standing on the top of a giant 30-foot pipe, feeling the rush and hearing the rumble as the water rushes through them. Then it's down to the shaft gallery where you can see the giant 65-foot shafts spinning the generators creating the electricity.
From there you will go out to the Tailbay, where you can see the jet flow valves, view the river flow and look up at the massive expanse of the dam looming above you. Next it's into the dam proper to access the inspection tunnels, view some of the inspection markings written on the walls from decades past then peek out of the vents down onto the river below.
Due to heightened security conditions, participants must provide their name, city & state of residence, and a passport or US driver's license number. All persons and personal items entering the dam do go through a magnetometer, (just like airport security). The tour will consist of over a mile of walking on concrete or similar hard surfaces, so wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
HOOVER DAM POWER FACTS
The dam and powerplant is operated and maintained by the US Bureau of Reclamation. There are 17 main turbines in powerplant. The original turbines were all replaced during an upgrade program between 1986 and 1993. The plant has a nameplate capacity of 2,074,000 kilowatts. The power generation part of the plant was completed in 1961. There are fifteen 178000 HP, one 100000 HP, and one 86000 HP Francis-type vertical hydraulic turbines. There are thirteen 130000 kW, two 127 kW, one 61500 kW, and one 68500 kW generators. All machines are operated at 60 cycles. There are also two 2400 kW station-service units driven by Pelton water wheels. These provide electrical energy for lights and for operating cranes, pumps, motors, compressors, and other electrical equipment within the dam and powerplant.
REQUIREMENT: All tour attendees are required to submit their Social Security Number or Passport Number as well as current city and state of residency in order to expedite a Department of Homeland Security background check. Please email the required information to pgreconference@pennwell.com once you receive registration confirmation for the tour.
Las Vegas Valley Water District
Ronzone Reservoir Distributed Solar Array Tour
Monday, April 10
1:30 - 3:30 PM
$20.00 per person, includes transportation
The Las Vegas Valley Water District¿s (LVVWD) 3.1 mega-watt Distributed Solar Array will be the largest photovoltaic project built by a public agency in the United States. The project consists of photovoltaic systems located at six reservoir and pumping station sites.
The Ronzone Reservoir and Pumping Station is the first of the six sites to begin operation. The power generated at the facility is utilized to support daily operations.
Although this site is not open to the public, a special tour will be provided POWER-GEN Renewable Energy & Fuels attendees. The event will include a guided walking tour of the Ronzone facility and an overview of the LVVWD¿s Distributed Solar Array project.
Full build-out of the Distributed Solar Array is scheduled for late 2006. Once completed, the system will produce more than 5 million kWh per year of clean electricity without any water consumption. The LVVWD¿s Distributed Solar Array was designed and built in cooperation with PowerLight Corporation.
This is a walking tour and the weather will probably be warm this time of year. Please wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing.
